What to do when coach has kid playing a position they don't like?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your kid has been playing the same position since he was U8? That’s not good for development. How much has he communicated with the coach himself about this?

+1. Coach is probably trying to develop your kid in places where his skills are lacking because he’s pretty much only ever played one position. It reflects pretty poorly on this past coaches that they let this happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You have to find out why your son wants to play forward/wing? Is it because he just want to score all of the time?

I would say that's part of it but not all. Naturally my kid is an attacker has always been an attacker since U8. Moving the ball up the field just just doesn't provide inspiration compared to playing wing or forward. It probably doesn't help my kid doesn't gel with the coach like the coach from last year.

If the explanation were just about anything but this, I would be with you. But this is a very immature mindset that doesn’t suggest your kid has really learned to function well as part of a team. Especially with larger field and more open play that starts at U13, I wonder if part of the coach’s motivation for moving him is if he seems like too much of a ball hog and coach wants him in a position where he will have to learn to pass and work with his teammates more.

OP here. Not a ball hog at all. My kid is a smart player and knows when to pass and when to keep the ball. My kid's goal is for having the team win not looking to up their stats or anything. I do agree bigger field and puberty have played a part in this as my kid is small. At this point just need to ride it out and see how things work out post puberty and go from there. Again, I agree it's probably a good thing to play a midfield position growth wise.

Also, I mentioned "swagger" earlier. That was probably the wrong word. I'd say "confidence" is what my kid has lost playing midfield.

All good feedback here thank you for your perspective. It's all good...Darned first world problems...

[Anonymous]

Maybe find a level where your kid is good enough to start in his preferred position

[Anonymous]

What happens when you have a job you don't like?

[Anonymous]

Your role as a parent is to foster their love for the game. Even if it means putting them into a different environment and even down a level.

My impression is the kid needs to suck it up though and “embrace the position”. He still gets to play a lot of minutes and evidently is looked upon by the coach as a key player to put him in that role. And the coach is developing him even if indirectly by making him play and become good at another position. Versatility will help your son. Playing one position since U8 is unheard of and a black mark on the prior coaches.

At this rate this kid will never play college if he gets like this playing in a different position. Maybe he is a team player and tries his best when playing even not in preferred position, but he will be out of the competitive side within 4 years.

[Anonymous]

Your kid and you sound selfish. Is he lazy? Is playing midfield too much running for him? Does he not like getting lots of touches on the ball and playing defense and passing. Is he a whittle baby?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your kid has been playing the same position since he was U8? That’s not good for development. How much has he communicated with the coach himself about this?

I was thinking same thing. My son has been played somewhere different every season as his primary position. It's been great for him developmentally. This is basically what it's been so far.

U9 - #8
U10- #9
U11- #4 and #6
U12- #6
U13 - #6 and #10

Some parents only see their kids as one thing though and I get it. I love seeing the goals too, but there are 10 other kids out there making that goal happen. Defense also gets more important the older they get, because opponents start bringing more strategy into the games. I always heard that the position will end up picking the player though, not the other way around. It would be good for him to get experience in another position

[Anonymous]

OP here. The problem is they don't have players that can play midfield so the coach has to play my kid there. If you can't get the ball up the field how do you expect the team to score? Weaker players are playing the wing and forward positions. Basically, the coach is making do with what he has.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. The problem is they don't have players that can play midfield so the coach has to play my kid there. If you can't get the ball up the field how do you expect the team to score? Weaker players are playing the wing and forward positions. Basically, the coach is making do with what he has.

This is very common in youth soccer. The older they get, the harder it is for the stud forward to make an impact if he/she cannot be supplied the ball. The field is simply too big now. If that forward has ball skills, then they will drop them to a deeper position (midfield), so they can affect the game.

[Anonymous]

Couple of ideas from players/families I’ve seen in similar situations:
(1) Help recruit/entice a better midfielder to the team to hopefully free up DC to play their preferred position (N.B. This could backfire and kid could be replaced completely so tread lightly)
(2) Watch professional games with DC and help them get excited about a professional player who is in that less preferred position. This may not only make that position seem more glamorous, but will also teach DC how to excel in that spot.

Good luck

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Couple of ideas from players/families I’ve seen in similar situations:
(1) Help recruit/entice a better midfielder to the team to hopefully free up DC to play their preferred position (N.B. This could backfire and kid could be replaced completely so tread lightly)
(2) Watch professional games with DC and help them get excited about a professional player who is in that less preferred position. This may not only make that position seem more glamorous, but will also teach DC how to excel in that spot.

Good luck

OP here. Good advice, thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You have to find out why your son wants to play forward/wing? Is it because he just want to score all of the time?

I would say that's part of it but not all. Naturally my kid is an attacker has always been an attacker since U8. Moving the ball up the field just just doesn't provide inspiration compared to playing wing or forward. It probably doesn't help my kid doesn't gel with the coach like the coach it last year.

Midfielders attack as well. What is stopping him from doing that from midfield?

There are other reasons for disliking midfield as DC has told me numerous times but this one I don't get.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, your son is playing at a high level isn’t enjoying playing. That could mean he may not like soccer that much. Have him work on explosive speed because that’s what separates outside positions.

Otherwise, your coach just may think DS isn’t good enough to play a position OR is so good at midfield he must play midfield.

Explanation from coach is that my kid is able to get ball out quick and needs my kid in the midfield as there aren't many on the team that can do that. I agree it will help my kid grow but when your kid comes home from playing crappy in a position they don't like and is upset to the point of crying it's frustrating to see as there's nothing I can do.

I've had my kid workout with an academy team and it went well. Will be practicing some more with that team in the spring to see it's a good fit. Most likely will make switch if all is good.

I would be really concerned if my child was frustrated to the point of crying over this. That is a huge character flaw, and should be your priority in responding to this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, your son is playing at a high level isn’t enjoying playing. That could mean he may not like soccer that much. Have him work on explosive speed because that’s what separates outside positions.

Otherwise, your coach just may think DS isn’t good enough to play a position OR is so good at midfield he must play midfield.

Explanation from coach is that my kid is able to get ball out quick and needs my kid in the midfield as there aren't many on the team that can do that. I agree it will help my kid grow but when your kid comes home from playing crappy in a position they don't like and is upset to the point of crying it's frustrating to see as there's nothing I can do.

I've had my kid workout with an academy team and it went well. Will be practicing some more with that team in the spring to see it's a good fit. Most likely will make switch if all is good.

There you go. That's where he needs to be to benefit the team.

[Anonymous]

OTHER COACHES DID YOUR KID A DISSERVICE BY NOT ROTATING HIM AROUND AT YOUNGER AGE GROUPS.

Now he's a spoiled kid who complains when he's not in his fave position.